Commercial trucks need more space than passenger vehicles to complete right turns. A tractor-trailer may first move left or enter an adjacent lane before the trailer follows the cab. On local streets connecting with I-2 and I-69C near the region’s international bridges, this movement can leave another road user beside a trailer with little room to escape.
A McAllen wide turn truck accident lawyer could determine whether the driver turned safely and whether the carrier trained the driver properly. At KGS Law PLLC, our truck crash attorneys examine the full turning sequence rather than the point of impact alone to ensure that the claim addresses how the truck entered the intersection and why the trailer crossed into the injured person’s path.
State Turning Rules a Trucker May Break
State law requires a driver to turn safely and to signal when another road user may be affected. Texas Transportation Code § 545.101 generally requires a driver to make a right turn as close as practicable to the right curb, § 545.103 permits a turn only when it can be made safely, and § 545.104 requires an appropriate signal. A truck’s size does not remove the duty to watch surrounding traffic. A McAllen attorney could show how a breach of these rules led to the wide turn truck crash.
The analysis often begins with the truck’s position near a signal or driveway. A driver may skip the passenger-side mirror, or the cab may drift left, so a nearby motorist believes the truck is going straight before the trailer tracks inward into the smaller vehicle.
Who Else May Share Fault for a Wide Turn Crash?
Fault can extend past the driver. A motor carrier can bear responsibility when poor training or unreasonable scheduling contributed to the maneuver, and maintenance records may matter when a damaged mirror or turn signal limited the driver’s ability to turn safely. A shipper or loading company may share fault when an unbalanced load changed how the trailer tracked through the turn.
A portion of the fault can also fall on the injured driver. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001, a claimant whose share of fault is greater than 50 percent cannot recover, while a lower percentage reduces the award in proportion to that finding. A wide turn truck wreck attorney in McAllen could trace every relationship to maximize available coverage and address an insurer’s attempt to shift blame.
Evidence in a Wide Turn Truck Case
Wide turn cases depend on evidence showing the truck’s path before impact. An attorney may seek dash-camera footage and video from nearby businesses, along with onboard data and photographs of tire marks. Preservation should begin promptly, before video is overwritten or a vehicle repaired.
In a wide turn truck collision case, our McAllen attorneys move quickly to secure this evidence and address an insurer’s claim that the injured driver entered the truck’s blind spot.
The Deadline To File a Truck Accident Claim
Time also limits a wide turn truck accident claim. Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, an injured person generally has two years from the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. A signed release accepted too early can end the right to further payment. A McAllen attorney could help you understand the deadline in your wide turn truck wreck case and review any settlement offer before you accept it.
Consult a McAllen Attorney About a Wide Turn Truck Crash
After a wide turn crash, early legal guidance helps preserve the evidence and your options. A McAllen wide turn truck accident lawyer at KGS Law PLLC could investigate the maneuver and preserve commercial vehicle evidence while assessing the financial toll of your injuries. Contact us to discuss the collision and your next steps under state law.